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The project, which would bring about 3,000 new apartments to the Two Bridges neighborhood through four towers, was approved in December by the City Planning Commission, which said the project complied with the area’s zoning.

Council Speaker Corey Johnson, Borough President Gale Brewer and City Councilwoman Margaret Chin disagreed and promised to challenge the project in court. In a ruling made public Thursday, Judge Arthur Engoron of state Supreme Court in Manhattan took the plaintiffs' side. The judge said that if the towers are allowed to be built without the city’s full public-review process, known as ULURP, “a community will be drastically altered without having had its proper say.”

The towers are to be developed by JDS Development Group, Starrett Development and a joint venture between L+M Development Partners and CIM Group. City planning officials praised the project’s inclusion of about 700 rent-restricted apartments that would be enrolled in the city’s affordable housing program. City planning also said it extracted concessions from the developers that included $15 million for two playgrounds and a park and $40 million to upgrade the East Broadway subway station.

But the City Council said the commission had overstepped its authority by declaring the towers required only “minor modifications” to the area’s zoning.

“The council has for years said this project—which would totally transform the Two Bridges neighborhood—requires public review and ultimately City Council approval,” Johnson said in a statement following the ruling. “We’re very grateful that the state Supreme Court agreed.”

A spokesman for the city’s Law Department said in a statement that the city is exploring its legal options.

“We are disappointed by the court’s ruling impacting a project expected to add hundreds of affordable housing units and improve transit infrastructure for the community,” the statement said.

The developers of the project plan to appeal the decision, according to a spokesman.

“Needless to say, we disagree with the court's ruling, as these projects were lawfully approved and met all legal requirements," read a statement from the companies. "They were proposed after years of community consultation, public review and environmental analysis, and in compliance with zoning that’s been in place for more than 30 years."

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